YOUR NO. 1 SOURCE FOR LOCAL NEWS, EVENTS, SPORTS AND MORE LOCAL NEWS YOU CAN USE July 31-August 6, 2015 VOLUME 8, ISSUE 31 www.danapointtimes.com SPORTS/PAGE 15 Former DP Yacht Broker Gets 7 Years for Defrauding Local Residents EYE ON DP/PAGE 3 The Monarch Beach Golf Links in Dana Point is a leader among courses responding to the ongoing drought and increased water conservation practices. Photo: Andrea Swayne Local Surfer Ian Crane Wins Wildcard Spot in Hurley Pro at Trestles SURF/PAGE 18 Recycled Water Line on Golden Lantern Nears Completion EYE ON DP/PAGE 3 Course of Action Area golf courses adjust to statewide water restrictions Summer Concerts Continue at Sea Terrace Park PAGE 10
Transcript
YOUR NO. 1 SOURCE FOR LOCAL NEWS, EVENTS, SPORTS AND MORE
L O C A L N E W S Y O U C A N U S EJuly 31-August 6, 2015
VOLUME 8, ISSUE 31
www.danapointtimes.com
S P O RT S / PAG E 1 5
Former DP Yacht Broker Gets 7 Years for Defrauding
Local Residents EYE ON DP/PAGE 3
The Monarch Beach Golf Links in Dana Point is a leader among courses responding to the ongoing drought and increased water conservation practices. Photo: Andrea Swayne
Local Surfer Ian Crane Wins Wildcard Spot in Hurley Pro at Trestles
SURF/PAGE 18
Recycled Water Line on Golden Lantern Nears Completion
EYE ON DP/PAGE 3
Course of ActionArea golf courses adjust to
statewide water restrictions
Summer Concerts Continue at Sea Terrace Park PAGE 10
LOCAL NEWS & IN-DEPTH REPORTINGEYE ON DP
www.danapointtimes.comDana Point Times July 31-August 6, 2015 Page 3
business associates came forward, saying that Fitzgerald owed them money.
Fitzgerald stole from some of the victims by securing loans from them to purchase boats for resale and then using the money for personal expenses. He then brought in new investors to pay off the first inves-tors, prosecutors said. He also sold clients’ yachts, kept the sale funds and then issued bad checks to his clients, as well as stealing deposits given to him by clients wishing to purchase boats.
A warrant was put out for Fitzgerald’s arrest for operating a Ponzi scheme. On May 10, 2013, Fitzgerald was arrested in Delray Beach, Florida, and extradited back to Orange County 13 days later, where he has since been behind bars.
Only two of Fitzgerald’s victims, Richard Carnesale and Barry Lloyd, appeared in court.
In the courtroom Monday, dressed in a blue jail-issued uniform, Fitzgerald’s appearance had changed drastically as he was significantly thinner than he was in his booking photo.
WHAT’S NEXT: Deputy District Attorney Sean O’Brien said Fitzgerald’s actual prison time will likely be reduced by nearly three years for time previously served . “With good behavior, Fitzgerald could be released in two years or less,” O’Brien said, adding that Fitzgerald is responsible for $1,348,624 in restitution, filing for bank-ruptcy will not reduce his restitution debt, and victims can file for their respective amounts in civil court.
Fitzgerald was expected to be trans-ferred to state prison sometime late this week. —Tom P. Blake/AS
Incoming Estrella Plaza Businesses on Schedule THE LATEST: Scott Burnham, CEO of Burnham USA, whose company has part-
nered with Kornwasser Shopping Center Properties, said the major businesses planned for the Avenida Estrella shopping plaza—on the San Clemente/Capistrano Beach border in the former Kmart/Sears plaza—are on schedule to open in the first quarter of 2016.
The larger businesses that have com-mitted to the Estrella Plaza are TJ Maxx, Sports Authority, Sprouts, SteinMart and ULTA Cosmetics, Burnham said, adding that the entire plaza will be home to about 20 to 25 stores.
WHAT’S NEXT: Burnham said the busi-nesses will most likely start hiring in the fall, but the dates of when they’ll fill posi-tions is tentative. —Eric Heinz
SONGS Moves to Store More Nuclear Waste in Canisters THE LATEST: During the quarterly Commu-nity Engagement Panel meeting on July 23 in Oceanside, the proposed additional stor-age for onsite nuclear waste at San Onofre Nuclear Generating Station that Southern California Edison and Holtec International has planned was the main focus of discus-sion.
Holtec president and CEO Krishna Singh discussed the proposal for stainless steel canisters that he said have been simulated to withstand twice the seismic activity of major earthquakes.
The nuclear waste is to be stored onsite underground until the Department of Energy, which is responsible for handling the waste, decides where to move it perma-nently.
A point of concern from audience members was SCE no longer mentions Saddleback Memorial Hospital in San Clemente as a primary facility for radiation-related emergency services. This was part of the less stringent requirements from the
Nuclear Regulation Commission amended in June.
“It’s a good hospital, (but) when we operated we had 2,000 to 3,000 employees on site, so we had four to five hospitals that were specially trained to handle a contaminated injured person,” Palmisano said. “We only have 300 to 500 employees on site today. We don’t need all those hospitals maintaining all that (specialized) capability.”
WHAT’S NEXT: Timelines of the next operation in the SONGS decommission planning are available online at www.songscommunity.com. —EH
City Adds New StaffTHE LATEST: On July 21, the Dana Point City Council authorized City Manager Doug Chotkevys to hire an interim plan-ning manager and interim city clerk specialist.
Charlie View will step in as interim planning manager upon leaving his current position as director of develop-ment services with the city of San Juan Capistrano. Rita Mueller, retired records management coordinator from the city of San Clemente, will fill in as interim city clerk specialist.
According to the council’s agenda, the planning manager position needed to be filled in order to “manage the consistently high volume of development projects” in Dana Point. The city clerk specialist posi-tion was vacated after the city’s current clerk Jennifer Ransom accepted a promo-tion elsewhere and resigned effective July 17.
View was initially hired as San Juan’s development director in December 2013 following 28 years of experience in mu-nicipal planning and development. View came to San Juan from the city of Brea, where he worked since 2002 as develop-ment services director and since 2010 as public works director.
“We were looking for a tenured expert that we could bring on to utilize their experience, and Charlie View comes very highly recommended, not only from (San Juan Capistrano City Manager Karen Brust), but more importantly from the city of Brea, where he was the commu-nity development director for quite some time,” Chotkevys said.
WHAT’S NEXT: Dana Point’s budget for fiscal year 2015-2016 includes funding for a currently vacant planning manager and also for a city clerk specialist. The cost of the two interim appointments will be covered through salary and benefit sav-ings during the vacancies. Both positions will be limited to no more than 960 work hours during their interim appointment with the city.—Allison Jarrell
What’s Up With...Five things Dana Point should know this week
DPDana Point
New Recycled Water Line Nears CompletionTHE LATEST: The recycled water pipeline from Del Prado down Golden Lantern to Dana Point Harbor Drive is nearly com-plete, South Coast Water District officials said.
SCWD expects the line to be done within the next few weeks although parts of it are ready to be hooked into now, said Director Wayne Rayfield.
“The project is about a month ahead of the mid-September expected completion date,” Rayfield said, adding that the city is looking to connect Lantern Bay Park to the line in the fall.
Rayfield also confirmed that two area homeowners associations—Lantern Bay Estates and Lantern Bay Villas —are continuing to explore switching over to recycled water, which would be handled by that new pipeline as well.
WHAT’S NEXT: “Both HOAs are working on engineering plans now,” Rayfield said. “We should know very shortly when they will come online.”
Rayfield noted that in order for the HOAs to tap in, they will have to pay for the con-nection to the SCWD line and also for new irrigation systems, in some instances.
“The Health Department will have to be involved to ensure that there are no cross connections between recycled water and potable water,” Rayfield said. “We can’t be definite on a timeline until all the steps are done.”—Andrea Swayne
Former DP Yacht Broker Gets 7 Years in PrisonTHE LATEST: Edward Sellers Fitzgerald, a former Dana Point yacht broker who was accused of defrauding 26 local residents of more than $1.3 million through a yacht in-vestment and sale scheme, was sentenced Monday to seven years in state prison, authorities said.
According to an Orange County District Attorney’s Office news release, Fitzgerald, 62, formerly of Dana Point and owner of Dana Island Yachts, accepted a plea deal, pleading guilty to 58 felony counts. On July 17, 2009 Fitzgerald emptied his bank accounts and disappeared. Soon thereafter, many of his acquaintances, friends and
The South Coast Water District’s new recycled water line down Golden Lantern from Del Prado to Dana Point Harbor Drive is nearly complete. Lantern Bay Park and two HOAs are expected to tap in. Photo: Madi Swayne
Dana Point Times July 31-August 6, 2015 Page 5
EYE ON DP
www.danapointtimes.com
NEWS BITESCOMPILED BY ANDREA SWAYNE
Las Buenas Amigas Annual Fashion Show a Success
Las Buenas Amigas, a Dana Point-based volunteer philanthropic organization, hosted 102 members and guests at their annual Patroness Luncheon and Fashion Show at Talega Golf Club in San Clemente on June 22, to honor LBA members and raise funds for area charities and causes.
The event was chaired by Ann St. Martin (Laguna Niguel) and co-chaired by Daneen Pysz (Dana Point). Among the member honorees at the “Endless Summer” gather-ing were, from Dana Point, June Bauer, Su-san Chotkevys, Beverly Hunsaker and Dori Schwarz; from San Juan Capistrano, Angela Brandolino, Virginia Peckham and Nancy B. Smith; Donna Combe of San Clemente; and from Laguna Niguel, Carol Clisby and St. Martin.
After lunch, LBA members Mary Lou Fisher (San Clemente), Jan Hammel (San Juan Capistrano), Betty Prock (Dana Point), Combe, Pysz and Smith modeled fashions from the San Juan Capistrano Chico’s store, and opportunity drawing winners were announced and presented with prizes of gift baskets donated by local merchants and assembled by members.
“It’s always a pleasure to raise funds for the youth and elderly of our surrounding communities,” said Prock, LBA secretary, adding that the half-day event took in a total of $4,300.
Funds raised at the event will be donat-ed to the Dana Point 5th Marine Regiment Support Group to assist in funding youth
Las Buenas Amigas members (L to R) Nancy B. Smith (SJC), Betty Prock (DP), Donna Combe (SC), Daneen Pysz (DP), Joyce Easton (DP), Ann St. Martin (LN) and Beverly Hunsaker (DP) pose for a photo in from of the 1946 woodie wagon owned by St. Martin and her husband Jim at the LBA’s annual Patroness Luncheon and Fashion Show. Photo: Courtesy
Raquel Ferrari wins Best of Show Award with original painting in Fountains at Sea Bluffs resident art show
alent sometimes has a funny way of revealing itself in the later years of one’s life.
Raquel Ferrari, 90, a resident of The Fountains at Sea Bluffs in Dana Point, showcased her long untapped talent for painting, winning first prize at the 2015 The Fountains at Sea Bluffs’ Annual Resi-dent Art Show with her piece, “Sea Scape Light Blue” last month.
Raquel discovered her talent and pas-sion for painting at age 70 and has been
She Saw the Sea
TBY JACOB ONOFRIO, DANA POINT TIMES
Raquel Ferrari’s love for beautiful seaside scenery is showcased in each of her many paintings. In addition to painting seascapes, Ferrari also finds inspiration for paintings in her Jewish heritage. Photos by Jacob Onofrio
taking adult art classes and creating her own original works of art ever since.
“Now in my mind, it’s all painting; any place I go I want to paint,” Ferrari said.
Ferrari said her favorite subject to paint is the sea, due to its significant presence in her life. Born and raised in Panama, Ferrari grew up in a home encompassed by the ocean, and she continued the trend
after meeting her husband and making permanent residence in Southern Califor-nia at age 23.
“In Panama we were always surrounded by water,” Ferrari said, “I’ve always loved the ocean.”
Raquel’s painting, along with other winning works from the show, have been submitted to Watermark Retirement
Communities Inc., The Fountains’ parent company, for a chance to be featured in “Expressions 2016,” a calendar celebrating active aging and the arts.
Runners-up were George Schuetze for “Boats at Twilight,” Janet Mackaig for “Threatening to be Oneself,” Mabel Mc-Cormick for “Flying Angel” and Harriet Strand for “Orange Bowl.”
Ferrari moved to The Fountains at Sea Bluffs in April and has since then estab-lished herself as a beloved and valued member of the community.
“Ms. Ferrari has incredible energy, joy, love and passion about her. Her paintings and magnificent landscapes have a true beauty about them,” Valerie Udicki, The Fountains’ community life director, said in a post-event press release.
The Fountains at Sea Bluffs offers a va-riety of weekly art classes where residents can engage in different creative activities such as ceramics and painting.
“The opportunities we offer here are all part of a lifestyle designed to help people thrive as long as they live,” Udicki said. “Our residents prove every day that it’s never too late to learn something new.” DP
programs for the children of Camp Pendle-ton Marine families and the Rehabilitation Institute of Orange County (RIO) in San Clemente, an organization that provides community-based adult services for the elderly in south Orange County.
LBA was founded 47 years ago by Mrs. Ron Birtcher and a group of friends who wished to give back to their local commu-nities. The local chapter has continued to do that through their numerous fundrais-ing activities. Each year their Funding Research Committee nominates local organizations who provide services to both the elderly and youth in the immedi-ate area. Those funds are distributed an-nually at LBA’s Christmas Luncheon and Boutique scheduled this year for Dec. 14 at the San Juan Hills Country Club.
For additional information please
contact Gini Sherwood, membership vice president, at 949.493.2125, or Joyce Easton, president, at 714.785.7854.
Local Coast Guard Auxiliary Presents Boater Education SeriesDana Point Yacht Club is hosting a
series of classes for boaters presented by Coast Guard Auxiliary Flotilla 68 through the summer and fall. Class offerings are open to the public. The schedule is as follows:
This is a comprehensive course de-signed for both the experienced and the novice boater. The course, now in its 14th
edition published in 2013, consists of six core required chapters plus an additional chapter on Inland Boating, which is to be included where appropriate. There are also six additional chapters on various subjects that may be chosen depending on local demands. Completion of the five-week series and passing grade on the final exam qualifies students to reduced boating insurance rates.
The basics of coastal navigation de-signed to acquaint you with the tools and skills required to be successful—great for novices or a refresher course for experienced (rusty) sailors. Consisting of navigation theory, plotting and course determination, dead reckoning, (time/speed/distance), compass use, deviation, error and adjustment, bearings, fixes and running fixes, tides and tidal current calculation, set and drift. This course has a strong emphasis on practical skills and students should expect some homework.
This practical hands-on class will en-able boaters to get the most from their nautical navigation GPS. Learn how to use the menus and functions to determine position, set waypoints, plot a course, determine speed and heading, correlate to a chart and more.
All classes are held at the Dana Point Yacht Club, 24399 Dana Drive at the Dana Point Harbor. Cost includes course books and materials. DPYC members pay only for course materials.
To register, or for more information send an email to [email protected] or call John Linder at 949.697.7125 or Garry Nelson at 714.234.0731. DP
Dana Point Times July 31-August 6, 2015 Page 6
EYE ON DP
www.danapointtimes.com
DP Sheriff’sBlotterAll information below is obtained from the Orange County Sheriff’s Department website. The calls represent what was told to the deputy in the field by the radio dispatcher. The true nature of an incident often differs from what is initially reported. No assumption of criminal guilt or affili-ation should be drawn from the content of the information provided. An arrest doesn’t represent guilt. The items below are just a sampling of the entries listed on the OCSD website.
Tuesday, July 28
SUSPICIOUS PERSON/CIRCUMSTANCES Street of the Golden Lantern, 34600 Block (11:21 a.m.) A patrol check was requested when a caller reported the odor of “something that smells like it is dead” coming from ei-ther a U-Haul truck or a pair of dumpsters the truck was parked next to.
Monday, July 27
SUSPICIOUS PERSON/CIRCUMSTANCES Doheny Park Road, 34100 Block (8:39 p.m.) A woman near the former Dana Point Party Supply store said she was being terrorized by a guy who was waving his middle finger in circles at her. She called his actions “mental torture” and asked that deputies tell him to leave her alone.
BURGLARY IN PROGRESS Colima Bay, 23700 Block (11:24 a.m.) A man said a female neighbor came to his residence and told him someone was inside her residence.
SUSPICIOUS PERSON/CURCUMSTANCES Ocean Ridge, 33100 Block (12:01 a.m.) A man was seen breaking into his mother’s green, four-door Honda parked in a cul-de-sac. He left the scene in his black, Ford Mustang.
COMPILED BY EVAN DA SILVA
A view of OCFA’s new Fire Station 56, which opened in Sendero this month. Photo: Allison Jarrell
Community MeetingsMONDAY, AUGUST 3
Youth Baseball League Registration9 a.m. Special walk-in registration opens for boys and girls ages 6 to 9. Season runs December through Febru-ary. Fee is $50 for residents and $65 for non-residents. Registration forms are available for download from the city’s website. For more information, email [email protected]. Dana Point Community Center, 34052 Del Obispo Street, www.danapoint.org.
TUESDAY, AUGUST 4
City Council Meetings CanceledCity Council meetings scheduled for Aug. 4 and Aug. 18 have been can-celled. The next meeting is set for Sept. 1, 6 p.m. at Dana Point City Hall, Coun-cil Chamber, 33282 Golden Lantern, 949.248.3500, www.danapoint.org.
South Orange County Toastmasters Meeting 7 p.m.-8:40 p.m. Practice becoming a more confident commu-nicator. Occurs every Tuesday. Dana Point Community House, 24642 San Juan Ave., Dana Point, 949.280.9777, 3944816.toastmastersclubs.org.
WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 5
Monarch Beach Sunrise Rotary Club7 a.m.–8:30 a.m. Join members of the volunteer-centered club for breakfast and a meeting each Wednesday at the Laguna Cliffs Marriott Resort & Spa, 25135 Park Lantern, Dana Point, www.monarchbeachrotary.com.
MONDAY, AUGUST 10
Planning Commission Meeting Canceled The next Planning Commis-sion meeting is set for Sept. Aug. 24, 6 p.m. at Dana Point City Hall, Council Chamber, 33282 Golden Lantern, 949.248.3500, www.danapoint.org.
TUESDAY, AUGUST 11
Veterans’ Assistance 1:30 p.m.-3 p.m. The Dana Point Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 9934 provides free veterans’ assistance on the second Tuesday of every month at the Dana Point Community Center, 34052 Del Obispo. For more information, call Robert Fowler at 949.275.3142 or visit www.vfwpost9934.org.
Sunday, July 26
SUSPICIOUS PERSON/CIRCUMSTANCES Crown Valley Parkway, 32400 Block (11:56 p.m.) Police conducted a patrol check for a man who was hitting a white van and setting the alarm off.
ASSIST OUTSIDE AGENCY Street of the Golden Lantern, 34600 Block (6:58 p.m.) Animal Control was requested after a woman next to a silver Mercedes-Benz convertible saw a 30 pound black and white dog locked inside the car with the windows “barely open.” The dog had reportedly been in the vehicle for over two hours and appeared to be in distress and dehydrated.
PETTY THEFT REPORT Camino Del Avion, 24000 Block (6:41 p.m.) An employee at the Monarch Beach Market reported their bike and other items stolen.
WARRANT ARREST Calle Portola/Calle Juanita (6:02 p.m.) A woman with an outstanding warrant from Kern County for weapons wanted to turn herself in. She was near the barbecue pits at the time of the call and had no weapons with her.
DISTURBANCE Pacific Coast Highway/Street of the Golden Lantern (4:14 p.m.) An elderly man was trying to start a dispute with two skateboarders in the Ralphs gro-cery store parking lot. One of the skaters was possibly hit by a vehicle but he told the caller he was OK. A Ralphs employee also told the caller they would contact a property security guard.
MUNICIPAL CODE VIOLATION Valencia Place, 33800 Block (2:31 p.m.) Multiple calls were made between 2:31 p.m. and 2:52 p.m. for contractors who were doing construction work in the lower garage. According to the caller, construction is not allowed on Sundays.
p.m.) Police conducted a patrol check for a man in his 80s who appeared to be disoriented and was asking for someone named “Maria.”
SUSPICIOUS PERSON/CIRCUMSTANCES Via California, 26400 Block (8:11 a.m.) A woman told police wires were hanging on her garage and across the street on a vehicle. She said she had called South-ern California Edison and the telephone company and neither had responded. Her neighbor’s wires had also been hanging since the previous night, she said.
Saturday, July 25
SUSPICIOUS PERSON/CIRCUMSTANCES Camino Capistrano/Via Verde (7:12 p.m.) A patrol check was conducted for a brown Chevrolet Silverado occupied by six individuals. Two men in their 40s got out of the truck and began chasing after two 17-year-old boys with skateboards and hats, saying, “get back here.” The boys could be heard saying “help me.”
ASSIST OUTSIDE AGENCY Street of the Golden Lantern, 34600 (5:35 p.m.) A caller from Turk’s Restaurant reported a woman in her 50s who appeared to have overdosed on Percocet and alcohol.
DISTURBANCE Dana Strand Road (3:50 p.m.) A caller reported a man and woman who were in a verbal altercation near a blue van on the street in front of a park-ing lot. Upon further inquiry, the caller became irritated with the amount of questions being asked and hung up on the emergency dispatch operator.
DISTURBANCE Old Golden Lantern/El Cami-no Capistrano (1:21 p.m.) A caller who was a member of a properly permitted wedding party taking place at the park, reported transients had set up camp where the festivities were taking place. The mother of the bride was having a verbal altercation with the transients, the caller said.
News Next DoorWHAT’S GOING ON IN OUR NEIGHBORING TOWNS
SAN CLEMENTEAlthough the Outlets at San Clemente had initially planned to host job fairs in August, they are now slated for 2 p.m. to 8 p.m. Sept. 17, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Sept. 26 and 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Sept. 27, according to mall officials.The grand opening of the Outlets is expect-ed to be sometime in November. According to the latest press release from the Outlets, some of the notable companies that will launch stores will include Calvin Klein, Cole Haan, Columbia Sportswear, GUESS, H&M, Levi’s, Nike, PUMA, Tilly’s, Tommy Hilfiger, Under Armour and White House Black Market.
For more information, visit the Outlets website at www.outletsatsanclemente.com.
SAN JUAN CAPISTRANOThe 1,200 residents of Ranch Mission Viejo’s Sendero community, located in the unincor-porated area of south Orange County just south of Ladera Ranch, received their own 10,000-square-foot fire station this month, which will staff four firefighters—including two paramedics—a brush fire engine and a paramedic fire engine.On July 16, the Orange County Fire Author-ity, Rancho Mission Viejo and the county of Orange celebrated the grand opening of Fire Station 56—OCFA’s 72nd fire station, which will serve the communities of Sendero, Rancho Mission Viejo, Ladera Ranch and San Juan Capistrano, in addition to taking all of the calls out on Ortega Highway to the Or-ange/Riverside county border.
Located at the corner of Sendero Way and Antonio Parkway, the station cost about $5 million to construct and sits on a one-acre site that was donated to OCFA by the Rancho Mission Viejo Company.
EYE ON DP
The Dana Point Historical Society is hosting a celebration at the Ocean Institute dockside aboard the brig Pilgrim to commemorate the 200th birthday of the city’s namesake, Richard Henry Dana. Photo: Andrea Swayne
R.H. Dana 200-year birthday fetes planned in Dana Point and San Juan Capistrano
ana Point and San Juan Capistrano have planned bicentennial celebra-tions for Saturday in honor of
Richard Henry Dana Jr., the author of Two Years Before the Mast and Dana Point’s namesake.
DANA POINT HISTORICAL SOCIETYThe Dana Point Historical Society is
holding a special event on Saturday, Aug. 1 from 6 p.m. to 7 p.m. on the brig Pilgrim, dockside at the Ocean Institute in Dana Point, to celebrate Dana’s 200th birth-day
The celebration will include appetizers, grog and other refreshments, music and a program that will feature excerpts from Dana’s 1915 centenary birthday program presented at Harvard University includ-ing: “Dana as a Man of Letters” “Dana as an Antislavery Leader,” and “Dana as a
HBD to RHD
D
BY ALISON SHAE AND ANDREA SWAYNE, DANA POINT TIMES
Lawyer and Citizen.” As part of the musi-cal entertainment, Bill Dempsey will be singing sea shanties. The event will end with a special tribute to Dana by Dr. Milt McMenamin.
Seats aboard the Pilgrim and spots in the pre-event reception are sold out; however, spectators may look on from dockside walkways and the pier.
For more information see www.dan-apointhistorical.com.
SAN JUAN CAPISTRANO FRIENDS OF THE LIBRARY
Dana Point history buffs who want to make an entire day of it should also check out the San Juan Capistrano Friends of the Library’s R.H. Dana Jr. 200th Birthday
Bash. This celebration will take place at the SJC Library bookstore, back lawn and La Sala auditorium and courtyard, 31495-A El Camino Real in San Juan from 10 a.m. to 9:30 p.m.
Free attractions will include a 19th Century Southern California shore whal-ing exhibit from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. in the La Sala auditorium, a lecture and book sign-ing by David T. Dana III of Into the Tiger’s Mouth: A Novel of the China Trade 1857-1863 at the bookstore and in the courtyard from 3:30 p.m. to 7 p.m. a display of Bob Minty’s 17th and 18th Century navigation-al instruments and scrimshaw collection.
The event will include the annual Crazy Croquet Tournament (a $5 ticketed event) officiated by the U.S. Croquet Association and trick shots demo from 3:30 p.m. to 5:30 p.m., followed by the Culinary Journey Around Cape Horn (a $25 ticketed food tasting from 5 p.m. to 7 p.m.) including a Mexican lasso demon-stration by Marcos Reyes from 5 p.m. to 5:30 p.m.
Beginning at 8 p.m., a concert “A Musi-cal History of the American West” and “A Tribute to the Human Rights Legacy of Richard Henry Dana” (a $25 ticketed event) will be presented, including a pre-concert living history review of Dana’s Life by Minty.
For more information about the San Juan event, stop by the SJC Friends Bookstore or call 949.493.2688 or 949.218.4512. DP
VIEWS, OPINIONS AND INSIGHTSSOAPBOX
Dana Point Times July 31-August 6, 2015 Page 8 www.danapointtimes.com
DPDana Point
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Dana Point Times, Vol. 8, Issue 31. The DP Times (www.danapointtimes.com) is published weekly by Picket Fence Media, publishers of the SC Times (www.sanclementetimes.com) and The Capistrano Dispatch (www.thecapistranodis-patch.com). Copyright: No articles, illustrations, photographs or other editorial matter or advertisements herein may be reproduced without written permission of the publisher. The publisher assumes no responsibility for return of unsolicited manuscripts, art, photos or negatives. Copyright 2015. All rights reserved. Printed in the USA.
PUBLISHER Norb Garrett
EDITORIAL
Picket Fence Media Group Senior Editor,City Editor, DP Times> Andrea Swayne
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SPECIAL THANKSRobert Miller, Jonathan Volzke
CONTRIBUTORS Megan Bianco, Evan Da Silva, Amanda Huffman, Katherine Nowicki, Jacob Onofrio, Dana Schnell, Alison Shea, Ryan Song, Tim Trent
WE WANT TO HEAR FROM YOU
To submit a letter to the editor for possible inclusion in the paper, e-mail us at [email protected] or send it to 34932 Calle del Sol, Suite B, Capistrano Beach, CA 92624. Dana Point Times reserves the right to edit reader-submitted letters for length and is not responsible for the claims made or the infor-mation written by the writers.
THE HARBOR, NOT DOWNTOWN, IS DANA POINT’S DEFINING FEATURE
DARRELL PETROFF, Capistrano Beach
Last week I had a doctor’s appoint-ment at 2 p.m. Thinking they would run late, my wife and I decided to try a new downtown restaurant that opens at 3 p.m. As luck would have it, the appoint-ment was quick and I was done at 2:15 p.m. We decided to wander the “down-town.”
We looked across the street and saw a real estate offi ce, next to it the post of-fi ce. Looking left, there are offi ce build-ings, and looking right, vacant lots.
We decided to make the two-minute drive down to the Harbor—walked through many shops and had several choices for restaurants. That’s when it dawned on me that the attraction to Dana Point is the Harbor. No matter how much lipstick you put on the downtown, the Harbor is the main attraction.
MAKING SMART CHOICES FOR OUR COMMUNITYMICHAEL DECOLLIBUS, Dana Point
The other day I was walking from my home in Dana Point to the Harbor area and I decided to walk through Lantern Bay Park. I was in disbelief when I came across the unsightly new bocce ball courts the city installed. The stark white concrete and sand paired up against the natural park landscape was hideous. And the fence is mismatched from the existing fence that sits right behind it. It seems like whoever designed these courts had no desire to build something that was aesthetically pleasing and co-hesive to the existing landscape. These bocce ball courts look like an after-thought, like a rushed job.
For a project that cost almost $100,000 to build and required the removal of several full-size trees, you’d think the standards would be a little higher. Also, the City Council passed this project even after members of the community spoke out against it. In a city that is “100% built-out” is this the best use of our park space? It would be interesting to get hard numbers on how many bocce ball matches have actually been played on these courts; or what percentage of the time they are being used.
The day I was down there was a Satur-day in the middle of summer. The park was full of people picnicking and playing with their kids. Guess how many people there were utilizing this section of the park. Zero. This section was empty. Not
Letters to the Editor
only is it ugly, it’s useless.I have been following the Skatepark of
Dana Point movement and their efforts to get a skatepark built in our commu-nity. I’m not saying Lantern Bay Park is a good location, but if those bocce balls courts were a skate park, I bet there would have been a lot of our younger residents and families using it. If we had a skate park, think about what percent-age of time it would be used. It would blow the bocce ball courts away.
I write this letter for reasons two-fold. 1. For residents: Keep your eye on local government. These people have the power to make changes that will affect your day-to-day life. If they are planning something that you feel isn’t a good fi t for the community, speak up! These people were elected to represent you and your neighbors. Make your voice heard. And 2. To the people in charge: Be thoughtful and considerate of the people who you are supposed to be rep-resenting. If they feel strongly enough about something to voice their opin-ion, you should listen and take it into consideration. Your decisions should not be solely based on what is best for business. You should be making choices to make this city a better place for the residents who live here.
And to our neighboring San Juan Capistrano, whose Parks Commission recently approved a skatepark in their city, good on you for answering the requests of your people. You are giving a priceless gift to your youth and this park will provide positive benefi ts to the kids in your community for generations to come.
DANA POINT OR HOBIE POINT?
ALLAN SEYMOUR, Capistrano Beach
I read with interest (in last week’s DP Times) the plans to create a statue for the late Hobie Alter. Great idea.
In addition, please consider the posi-tive impact Hobie has had on the Dana Point/Capistrano Beach economy and beach lifestyle.
The Hobie Surf Shop was the fi rst purpose built surf shop in the nation. The Hobie Surfboards factory in Capistrano Beach was the major area employer in the ’60s and ’70s. The internationally famous Hobie Cat was born on Beach Road. Hobie Alter, besides being a champion surfer, was among numerous honorees inducted into the Surfi ng Hall of Fame, the Sailing Hall of Fame and the Orange County Sportswriters Hall of Fame.
Richard Henry Dana wrote a nice book including a description of his short visit to our shores. I never quite got the reason for the New England architecture in our beach town.
Now is the time to re-name our town Hobie Point.
CITY COUNCIL APPROVES PARKING PLAN
BETTY HILL, Capistrano Beach
An acceptable parking plan for Town Center (Lantern District) should: En-courage development responsibly, treat residents fairly, promote business suc-cess and account for the future. If these are worthwhile goals, then the parking plan approved by the City Council falls well short. However, Mayor Carlos Olvera and Councilmen John Tomlinson and Joe Muller voted 3-2 for approval.
Parking zoning changes should not be considered at this time. Projects are cur-rently underway, entitled and proposed in Town Center, including several restau-rants, using the parking allowed in the Town Center Plan. The City Council’s approval changes the Town Center Plan to reduce the non-residential parking requirement by over 50 percent with restaurant parking also reduced to two spaces per 1,000 square feet. Develop-ers should provide adequate parking for their projects, rather than being allowed to shift the burden to Dana Point taxpay-ers.
Most importantly, where’s the park-ing? The city maintains that there is a surplus of unused, private parking spaces in Town Center that it will pay to lease on a short-term basis. However, there is no guarantee that property owners will continue to make those spaces available in convenient locations. More parking spaces will be needed as development occurs under the reduced zoning provisions. A parking shortage will discourage customers, causing busi-nesses to suffer. A long-term parking plan should be included in any proposal to ensure convenient parking for resi-dents and businesses, as required in the Town Center Plan.
The parking plan will be presented for a required second reading and approval at a September council meeting. Please let your city councilmen know that this plan needs improvement and should not be approved.
Now, more than ever, please support Dana Point Residents for Responsible Development’s (DPRRD) 2015 Town Center Initiative to give residents a vote and have their interests fairly represent-ed. Please go to www.facebook.com/dan-apointresidents for more information.
YOUR SEVEN-DAY EVENT PLANNERGETTING OUT
Dana Point Times July 31-August 6, 2015 Page 10 www.danapointtimes.com
DPDana Point
For our full calendar, visit the “Event Calendar” at www.danapointtimes.com.
SATURDAY, AUGUST 1: DANA POINT SUMMER CONCERT SERIES1:30 p.m.-6 p.m. Live music by The Broken Records, Keston & The Rhythm Killers and Kenny Cetera’s Chicago Experience at the city’s annual summer concert series. The three bands take the stage at Sea Terrace Park. Admission is free. Free shuttle bus service to Sea Terrace Park from Dana Hills High School runs from 1 p.m. to 7 p.m. At-tendees may also take the free Dana Point PCH Trolley from other areas in Dana Point to the concert. Pacific Coast Highway and Niguel Road, Dana Point, www.danapoint.org.
Friday | 31SHAKESPEARE UNDER THE STARS: A MIDSUMMER NIGHT’S DREAM7:30 p.m. Enjoy Shakespearean comedy under the stars. Bring folding chairs and a picnic. Snacks and refreshments will be available for sale. The prettiest picnic wins a prize. Tickets are $15. Also runs Aug. 2. Historic Town Center Park, 31852 El Cami-no Real, San Juan Capistrano, 949.489.8082, www.caminorealplayhouse.org.
A FEW GOOD MEN8 p.m. Powerful, masterful and utterly moving, Aaron Sorkin’s award-winning play unfolds with drama and intensity. Show also runs Aug. 1, 7, 8, 14 and 15 at 8p.m. and at 2 p.m. on Aug. 2 and 16. Tickets are $20 each. Cabrillo Playhouse, 202 Avenida Cabrillo, San Clemente, 949.492.0465, www.cabrilloplayhouse.org.
Saturday | 01DANA POINT FARMERS MARKET & CRAFT FAIR9 a.m.-2 p.m. Seasonal produce, flowers and much more at La Plaza Park each Sat-urday. On the first Saturday of the month, hours are extended to include a craft fair. 949.248.3500, www.danapoint.org.
HISTORICAL SOCIETY HOSTS DANA BIRTHDAY CELEBRATION5 p.m.-7 p.m. The Dana Point Historical Society hosts an event celebrating the
The ListWhat’s going on in and around town this week
Patrick at The Swallow’s Inn. 31786 Camino Capistrano, San Juan Capistrano, 949.493.3188.
CAPT. DAVE’S WHALE WATCHINGTimes vary. Trips available every day of the week. Get up close to marine life aboard a Captain Dave’s Dolphin & Whale Watching Safari trip. Prices vary. Call for more information. 24440 Dana Point Har-bor Drive, Dana Point, 949.488.2828, www.dolphinsafari.com.
Tuesday | 04“NATIONAL NIGHT OUT” COMMUNITY EVENT5 p.m.-8 p.m. The City of Dana Point and Dana Point Police Services will be hosting a free “National Night Out” event to promote unity and safety in the city’s neighborhoods. The event will take place at Pines Park in Capistrano Beach and will include food, live music, the Orange County Sheriff Department Mounted Unit, K-9 Unit and more. 34941 Camino Cap-istrano, Capistrano Beach, 949.248.3531, www.danapoint.org.
STEPHEN STILLS8 p.m. Stephen Stills preforms live music at the Coach House August 4 and 5. Tick-ets are $60. Doors open at 6 p.m. 33157
COMPILED BY STAFF
200th birthday of Richard Henry Dana Jr. on the brig Pilgrim. A $25 donation benefits Ocean Institute. Reservations aboard the brig will be limited to 40 guests and limited additional seating will be avail-able dockside. For more information, visit www.danapointhistorical.org.
TWO STEPPING UNDER THE STARS6 p.m. The San Juan Capistrano Eques-trian Coalition and Blenheim Facility Management will host the third annual Two Stepping Under the Stars. Live music will be provided by the Kelly Boyz, food and drinks will be available for purchase, and kids can enjoy games and activities. The event also includes a silent auction and raffle. Free line dancing lessons begin at 5 p.m. Admission is free and open to the public. Rancho Mission Viejo Riding Park, 27174 Ortega Highway, San Juan Capist-rano, 949.395.8349, www.sjcec.org.
HARBOR MUSIC CRUISE: BUNCH OF GUYS8 p.m. Enjoy live music aboard the 95-foot vessel Dana Pride while cruising the Dana Point Harbor and watching the sunset. Boat features a full bar. Occurs each Satur-day through Oct. 17. Must be 21 or over. $19. Dana Wharf Sportfishing & Whale Watching, 34675 Golden Lantern, Dana Point, 949.496.5794, www.danawharf.com.
Sunday | 02NAOMI JB1 p.m.-3 p.m. Live music at DaVine Food & Wine. 34673 Golden Lantern Street, Dana Point Harbor, 949.493.4044, www.davine-wine.com.
Monday | 03COUNTRY DANCING6:30 p.m. Country Dancing with DJ
Restaurant Spotlight: Juice Joint & Deliearly two years ago, Jesse Lopez and his brother opened Juice Joint & Deli, a juice bar and deli that
serves up a wide array of juices, smoothies and sandwiches in San Juan Capistrano.
All signature juices and smoothies are made using fresh, all-natural fruits and vegetables and can be customized to customers’ specifications. They also offer additional healthy ingredients like wheat-grass shots, vitamins and protein powder.
In addition to juices and smoothies, the deli offers a large selection of signature sandwiches using a variety of Boar’s Head
meats, cheeses and spreads, along with their own house-made spreads and dressings.
Lopez said he recommends the SoCal Special,
a customer favorite with turkey, bacon, avocado, lettuce, tomato, pickled onions, pepperoncini, jalapenos, Swiss cheese and Cajun mayo served on multi-grain bread. For those who like things spicy, try the Fire-house, a London broil roast beef sandwich
N
served on a toasty French roll with smoked Gouda cheese, jalapenos and chipotle sauce. It’s a sandwich that brings both the flavor and the heat.
Juice Joint & Deli provides a casual atmosphere with brightly colored walls and a large television playing in the corner, making for an easygoing dining experience that complements friendly service from Lopez and company.
“[This business] has grown itself because customers love what they get,” Lopez said.
Juice Joint & Deli, 32141 Alipaz Street, Suite E, San Juan Capistrano, 949.545.7699, www.juicejointdeli.com. DP
Camino Capistrano, San Juan Capistrano, 949.496.8930, www.thecoachhouse.com.
Wednesday | 05CAPO BEACH FARMERS MARKET11 a.m.-4 p.m. Visit the area’s latest weekly market where locally-grown, organic pro-duce and regional artisans are featured. Capo Beach Church, 25975 Domingo Ave., 949.573.5033, www.danapoint.org.
SALSA NIGHT AT BRIO9 p.m.-1 a.m. Latin dance music with DJ Johnny and $5 house margaritas from 8 p.m. to midnight. Brio Tuscany Grille, 24050 Camino Del Avion, Dana Point, 949.443.1476, www.briorestaurant.com.
Thursday | 06BRANDON WILDFISH6 p.m.-9 p.m. Live music at Salt Creek Grille. 32802 Pacific Coast Highway, Dana Point, 949.661.7799, www.saltcreekgrille.com.
Owner Jesse Lopez said he is all about serving up high-quality service at Juice Joint & Deli in San Juan Capistrano. Photo: Jacob Onofrio
The crowd enjoys last week’s concert in the park at Sea Terrace Park. Photo: Sherry Murphy
EDITOR’S PICK
Dana Point Times July 31-August 6, 2015 Page 12
PLEASE NOTE: In an effort to provide our readers with a wide vari-ety of opinions from our community, the DP Times provides Guest Opinion opportunities in which selected columnists’ opinions are shared. The opinions expressed in these columns are entirely those of the columnist alone and do not reflect those of the DP Times or Picket Fence Media. If you would like to respond to this column, please email us at [email protected]
PROFILES OF OUR COMMUNITYDP LIVINGDP
Dana Point
“ The true reason we are not married is we like our relationship the way it is. We have been together for 17 years. Why change? ”
there is always a commitment ceremony done by many churches or independently.”
Kenny said, “I’m kind of leaning toward the fastest-growing relationship style for the older boomer ‘folk.’ It’s called a LAT relationship (acronym for Living Apart Together). The premise is you love each other to bits, travel together and are totally committed and perceived by all your friends, family and social circle as a cou-ple, but you maintain separate residences and do not mix money or children.”
Christine Baumgartner, an Orange County dating and relationship coach ([email protected]), who is also a member of the “Finding Love After 50” Facebook group, said, “Most people in the 50 to 80 age group I coach are very interested in being in a committed, long-term, monogamous relationship and not interested in getting married. The reasons vary from financial to property to living arrangements.
GUEST OPINION: On Life and Love After 50 by Tom Blake
Marriage vs. Living Together, an Age-old Question for Seniors
In May, my significant other, Greta, and I took a 15-day river
cruise from Budapest to Amsterdam. On the boat, the first question people asked us was “Where are you from?” The second was “How long have you and Greta been mar-ried?”
The boat had 190 passengers. Most of them were married couples ages 50 to 80. They just assumed that we were married. To avoid a lengthy explanation of why we aren’t married, we’d usually reply, “We’ve been together for 17 years.”
From there, the conversation would seg-ue into “How many children do you have?” again assuming that we had a bunch of kids together.
Greta would answer, “I have four chil-dren, eight grandchildren and three great grandchildren.” I wouldn’t answer the question because I have no kids.
From there, the conversation would turn into disbelief that Greta looks too young to have three great-grandkids. By then, I could distract the marriage con-versation by commenting how good the Austrian wine was or point out a historic castle up on hill that the boat was passing.
Sometimes I am asked, “Why aren’t you married?” I suppose I could answer, “Why should I be?” But if I am feeling particu-larly devilish, I get out a tissue or hankie, pretending to dab my teary eyes and say, “Greta won’t marry me.” That makes the person who asked the question feel bad and they quickly change the subject.
The true reason we are not married is we like our relationship the way it is. We have been together for 17 years. Why change? We see no advantage to being married for us. Besides, we’ve both been married more than once before.
A month ago, I created a Facebook page, titled, “Finding Love after 50,” which has grown to 280 members. One member posted the “Marriage vs. living together?” question. Two men responded.
Gordon said, “At my time of life, in most cases, I do not think marriage is the best answer. Exceptions could be if you want your future spouse to be included on your health plan and they will not cover unless you are married. Living together is fine; however, if further commitment is wanted,
“I stress to the couples who make the choice to not marry the necessity of a few legal arrangements: health directive, power of attorney, etc. If either person becomes incapacitated or dies, someone will need to be legally responsible, and it won’t matter how long you’ve been together, you will have no way to legally help your partner if there isn’t something legally in place.”
So, when you see older couples holding hands, they may or may not be married and it really doesn’t matter.
Tom Blake is a San Clemente resident who has authored three books on middle-aged dating. To read Tom’s previous columns, see www.FindingLoveAfter50.com. DP
ON LIFE AND LOVE AFTER 50
By Tom Blake
Dana Point Times July 31-August 6, 2015 Page 13
DP LIVING
www.danapointtimes.com
Latte artists go head-to-head at Crank & Grind in a contest of skill
oth the competition and the espresso machine heated up Thursday, July 23 at Crank & Grind
as regional baristas assembled in Dana Point to show off their artistic side.
With a cup of espresso as the canvas, competitors painted a picture using steamed milk to form latte art.
A panel of judges and a group of specta-tors packed into the coffee shop—located in Dana Point’s Lantern District inside the Bike Religion shop on Pacific Coast Highway—looking on with a critical eye as competitors stepped up to the espresso machine two at a time in a head-to-head competition. Only the judges’ opinion determined the outcome though and, by majority vote, one was chosen and the other eliminated. The last barista stand-ing took home a cash pot comprised of all the $5 competition fees.
The winner was Matt Barahura of James Coffee Co. in San Diego.
“You’ve got to steam really good milk,” the barista of eight years said. “If it’s not smooth and glossy, it’s not going to work. If the air is incorporated right and the milk is perfect, it makes the design a lot easier.”
Pouring a latte is ritual for baristas, but some cracked under the extra pressure, turning their cup into an amorphous white blob suspended in brown.
“If you’re nervous, your hands are shaking and you might not make great milk,” Barahura said. “It’s easy to learn, but it’s easy to mess up.”
This type of competition, known as a Thursday Night Throwdown—abbrevi-ated as TNT—is usually organized by the local TNT group, such as OC TNT in Orange County, SD TNT in San Diego and IE TNT in the Inland Empire, and then hosted by different coffee shops in the respective area. Each local organiza-tion holds one Throwdown a month and coordinates with the others so they don’t
Coffee Clash: Battle of the Baristas
BSTORY AND PHOTOS BY ALEX PARIS,DANA POINT TIMES
Clockwise from the top: Andrew Gomez, of Rose Park Coffee in Orange, pours steamed milk into espresso to form latte art. An example of the latte art being judged dur-ing the competition. The night’s winner, Matt Barahura of James Coffee in San Diego, prepares milk for his latte pour. Judges (L to R) Chris Guglialmo (Crank and Grind), Jeff Courson (Bodhi Leaf Coffee, city of Orange) and Kate Tiskevics indicate which latte art they prefer. Majority vote wins.
overlap. This time, Crank & Grind both organized and hosted the Throwdown, with baristas of all the aforementioned locales making an appearance.
Crank & Grind owner Karen O’Connell said she expected the healthy turnout for
cyclists, we’re a full-blown coffee shop serving premium Aussie, artisan-style coffee and the premium end of espresso. (Our espresso) doesn’t have that bitter aftertaste. It’s not burnt. It’s good enough to drink without sugar and syrup.” DP
the event, as her baristas often go out and compete at other locations.
“We’re known for having good coffee and art, and people in the industry are becoming more aware of us,” O’Connell said. “We’re not just a coffee place for
Each Sudoku puzzle consists of a 9x9 grid that has been subdivided into nine smaller grids of 3x3 squares. To solve the puzzle, each row, column and box must
contain each of the numbers 1 to 9. Puzzles come in three grades: easy, medium and difficult. Level: Medium
SudokuLast week’s solution:
BY MYLES MELLOR
See today’s solution in next week’s issue.
PET OF THE WEEK: SUNDAEPretty little Sundae is a looking for
her purrfect home. As her name sug-gests, Sundae has a sweet personality and can be very playful. Though only a year old, Sundae has already raised a litter of five rambunctious male kitties. Now she wants someone who will pamper her and give her all the attention she so deserves. Could you be the one she’s been waiting for?
If you would like to know more about Sundae, please call the San
Clemente-Dana Point Animal Shelter at 949.492.1617, or visit them at the shelter, 221 Avenida Fabricante in San Clemente.
Dana Point Times July 31-August 6, 2015 Page 15 www.danapointtimes.com
STORIES, SCORES, SCHEDULES AND MORESPORTS & OUTDOORSDP
Dana Point
Amidst the chatter concerning golf course water waste that has grown louder and louder as the
four-year-long California drought drags on, courses like Monarch Beach Golf Links in Dana Point hope to lead the way in terms of proper course maintenance practices, specifically when it comes to conserving water.
In April, Gov. Jerry Brown enacted a law that all residents cut potable water us-age by 25 percent. For a sizeable portion of the golf industry in California that uses potable water to keep the grass green, that has put them squarely in the govern-ment’s cross hairs.
Brown directed the State Water Resources Control Board to “impose restrictions to require that commercial, industrial and institutional properties, such as campuses, golf courses and cemeteries, immediately implement water efficiency measures to reduce potable water usage in an amount consistent with the reduction targets mandated.”
However, golf courses that run on re-claimed water are not required to cut their usage. Monarch Beach Golf Links runs exclusively on reclaimed water, along with other area courses such as The Ranch at Laguna Beach, Talega Golf Club and San Clemente Municipal Golf Club.
The South Coast Water District, which provides reclaimed water to Monarch Beach and The Ranch at Laguna Beach, sells recycled water at a price that is 10 percent lower than the potable water rate, according to South Coast Water District director Wayne Rayfield.
The fact that they are under no water usage restrictions has not stopped Mon-arch Beach Golf Links from taking action in regard to water consumption, accord-ing to general manager Eric Lohman.
In 2011, the course was certified by the Audubon Cooperative Sanctuary Program for golf courses, which issues guidelines and practices for member courses to follow in order to limit the impact on the surrounding environment.
Aside from keeping watchful eyes on sprinkler heads and replacing bathrooms with waterless urinals, Monarch Beach Golf Links uses advanced sensor tech-nology to avoid overwatering. Sensors are placed in the greens that provide
Course of Action
TBY STEVE BREAZEALE, DANA POINT TIMES
Monarch Beach Golf Links in Dana Point employs a wide variety of water conservation practices in order to limit their water usage, despite not being required to do so. Photo: Eric Heinz
real-time evaporation rates to the course superintendent, highlighting when and when not to water.
Monarch Beach Golf Links also uses paspalum, a drought-tolerant turf, across the grounds. Lohman and his staff said the paspalum responds best to reclaimed water and is a better alternative to other strains of grass, which could require more watering in order to stay alive and lush.
The amount of water being used on the course has also decreased over the years, Lohman said. He estimates the course has reduced consumption by roughly 10 percent compared to last year and is down 15 to 20 percent from its all-time high several years ago.
“There is an effort in golf that whether you have reclaimed (water) or don’t have reclaimed … at the end of the day we understand that our neighbors are having to make sacrifices, our hotel partners are having to make sacrifices,” Lohman said. “So we just want to make sure that we’re definitely doing everything in our power, whether we’re required to or not, to at least lead by example … We have taken it upon ourselves to do that.”
The South Coast Water District pro-vided an assist to area courses last year, when they added reverse osmosis units to their Aliso Creek recycled water facility. Prior to the units’ installation, the water district was having difficulty controlling the elevated salt content of the recycled water, which made it unusable for golf courses, according to Rayfield. With the reverse osmosis units in place, the water
district is now able to run the reclaimed water through the units, remove more salt and bring the quality of the water up to usable levels.
In San Clemente, Shorecliffs Golf Club is the only course in town currently using potable water.
Under the guidance of course super-intendent Jose Pelayo, Shorecliffs Golf Club has been decreasing its water usage considerably since 2009 while maintain-ing the quality of the course, according to general manager Joe Leicht. The shining light at the end of the tunnel for the course has been the expansion of the city’s recycled water plant, which opened on Sept. 25, 2014. Shorecliffs Golf Club has been waiting to tap into the reclaimed water pipeline and plans to be fully converted to recycled water by the end of August, Leicht said.
“We’re at a strategical disadvantage be-cause all of the other golf courses around us are already on reclaimed water … We were the only ones that were turning brown and we couldn’t afford the water and nor would we have been allowed to use it if we could. That’s why the timing is perfect to be switching to reclaimed because the city is finally able to give us (that),” Leicht said.
In the time spent waiting for the pipe-line, Pelayo and his grounds crew have learned to get creative with their land-scaping and agricultural duties. Roughly 20 acres of turf has been removed since 2009 and replaced with biodegradable mulch, which can be seen primarily around tee boxes and areas that are not considered in play to golfers. Water-ing days have been limited to two days instead of four and the greens are now being hand-watered in order to precisely deliver water to stressed areas. A combi-nation of aerating the turf and applying a wetting agent, which seeps into the deeper layers of the soil in order to retain moisture, has kept Shorecliffs green. In some areas, irrigation systems have been removed entirely. The condition of the course’s poa annua greens remains “perfect,” according to Leicht.
There is also the amount of water being used on the course, which has dropped off dramatically since 2014. According to Pelayo, Shorecliffs Golf Club used 8,000 units (almost 6 million gallons) of water per month last year compared to the 5,200 units they are averaging per month in 2015, a decrease of 35 percent.
Last year the course spent $270,000 on water. Despite the impending shift to reclaimed water in August, Leicht is not anticipating a large increase in savings down the road. Certain chemicals, such as calcium and gypsum, will need to be purchased and added to the course in order to offset the lower-quality water’s impact on the turf.
“The savings aren’t going to be all that significant in the long run … but long-term, the nice thing is, we won’t be under those restrictions,” Leicht said. “We’ll be able to make sure we can water when and if we need it and at the same time, we’ll be more responsible stewards.” —Andrea Swayne contributed to this report. DP
Area golf facilities adjust to state wide water restrictions
Here are some numbers associated with the California golf course indus-
try’s water usage.
921Number of golf facilities statewide (including stand-alone ranges and
miniature golf facilities)
0.9Percentage of California’s ground
and surface water consumed by golf courses
1.2Percent of the total water used for
California’s irrigated crops consumed by golf courses
15Percent of irrigated golf course acreage using reclaimed water
*Numbers based on The California Golf Economy: Economic and Environmental
Impact Summary, a 2011 report compiled for Golf 20/20 by SRI International, an
independent, nonprofit research institute.
Watering the Greens
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www.danapointtimes.comDana Point Times July 31–August 6, 2015 Page 17
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Dana Point Times. Call us today!949.388.7700 ext. 102
DANA POINT MARINA INNLaundry person, Housekeepers, Admin Assistant, Front desk, Reservations agents. Pay based on experience. Apply in person. 24800 Dana Point Harbor Dr.
HELP WANTEDWe are looking for an experienced RDA or RDAEF for our Perio practice located in San Clemente who is a team player. Must have implant experience. Please fax resume to; 949/361-4868
ANNUAL HOMEOWNERS ASSOCIATIONMontego at Rancho San Clemente Commu-nity Wide Garage Sale. Saturday, August 8 8am-3pm. Community is located off Avenida Pico and Calle Del Cerro. Turn in at the Mon-tego Monument sign. Please Join Us!
COMMUNITY GARAGE SALESeaview Townhomes Homeowners Associa-tion in San Clemente is having a Community Garage Sale on Sat. August 8th from 7-2 pm. Located at La Esperanza and Vista Encanta.
DP SURF IS PRESENTED BY:
Dana Point Times July 31–August 6, 2015 www.danapointtimes.comPage 18
DPDana Point SCOOP ON THE LOCAL SURF COMMUNITY
DP SURF
Cannon Carr. Photo: Hugh Berringer
UPCOMING EVENTSJuly 24-August 2: Vans US Open of Surfing, Huntington Beach Pier October 11-18: ISA World Junior Surfing Championship, Oceanside Pier
Hurley Pro wildcard runner-up Patrick Gudauskas of San Clemente earned a spot in the trials semifinal and ultimately in the final with winner Ian Crane. Photo: Andrea Swayne
San Clemente-based surfers Ian Crane (left), the Hurley Pro local wildcard winner, and Griffin Colapinto check in for a heat at the Hurley Pro Trials at T Street on July 23. Photo: Andrea Swayne
SURF FORECASTWater Temperature: 69-72 degrees F
Water Visibility and Conditions:6-10’Poor-Fair
Friday: Nice round of SW groundswell winds down through the end of the work week, as minor NW windswell blends in. Size eases some, with waist-chest high (3-4’) surf at better breaks, and lingering head high sets for standouts in the morning. Winds are light/variable early each day, trending onshore through the mid-mornings and giv-ing way to a moderate Westerly sea-breeze each afternoon.
Outlook: SW swell winds down through the weekend as a new South swell builds in. Fun zone surf in the knee-waist-chest high range (2-3’+) continues, with some larger sets for summer magnets during the more favorable tides. Favorable morning winds continue. Check the full premium forecast on Surfline for more details and the longer range outlook.
an Crane of San Clemente won the locals’ slot into the Hurley Pro Trestles at the event’s wildcard trials on Thurs-
day, July 23 at T Street, beating runner-up Patrick Gudauskas, also of San Clemente, 15.77 to 14.47 in the final.
“It feels awesome to have the Hurley Pro wildcard spot,” Crane said. “I’m so excited to be a part of the event and get to surf Trestles with the best surfers in the world. I’m inspired to put on a good performance and represent for San Clem-ente.”
The other San Clemente surfers competing for the wildcard were Tanner Gudauskas, Griffin Colapinto, Chris Ward and Nate Yeomans, and from Dana Point/Capistrano Beach, brothers Luke and Jake Davis.
The trials were run in a round robin format with two separate brackets—the Hurley Team Bracket (eight surfers) and the Locals Bracket (eight surfers). Each competitor surfed twice—once in Round 1
IBY ANDREA SWAYNE, DANA POINT TIMES
GROM OF THE WEEK
CANNON CARRannon Carr, 9, of San Clemente said he is having an epic summer honing his skills on both surfboards
and skateboards and training on his family’s invention, the Syck Trix board. He wants to make the most of the long summer days before starting fourth grade at Concordia Elementary in the fall.
“I haven’t been doing that many contests lately. I’ve just been free surfing at Low-ers and stuff,” he said. “I also went to Baja Mexico with my dad for my birthday a few weeks ago and it was super fun. All we did was eat and surf. It seemed like every wave barreled. I was in this one huge barrel and it just clamped. I didn’t make it out but I will always remember that wave.”
Although surfing any time of year is great in his book, Cannon said he likes summer surfing because being in the water feels so good.
“When you get in the water it feels nice. Instead of just sitting in the house all day sweating or skating and stuff, you can get in the water and cool off,” he said. “I like food but surfing is better than the best thing you’ve ever eaten before.”
Cannon is honored to be part of the group of up-and-coming young surfers in San Clemente and Dana Point being primed for professional surfing careers and says the best part about growing up and training here is the abundance of pros in the area to look up to.
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and again in Round 2—and the four high-est three-wave total points-earners moved on to the man-on-man semifinals. In the semis and finals each surfer’s top two waves were scored and one surfer in each bracket was awarded a wildcard slot in the upcoming Hurley Pro.
Hiroto Ohhara of Japan was the Hurley bracket winner.
The two newly-crowned wildcards then went on to face each other in the Super Heat. Crane again came out on top, win-ning a trip for two to the Kandui Resort at Indonesia’s Mentawai Islands for his efforts.
“I thought it was cool the way Hurley had two qualifying brackets for the trials,” Crane said. “It made everyone happy and it was fair at the same time. They got their Hurley team rider in the event and a San Clemente local was guaranteed a spot. It took the pressure off knowing one of us would end up in the event for sure. And the Indo trip is definitely a super bonus.”
The Hurley Pro at Trestles, event No. 8 on the World Surf League Championship Tour, is set for September 9 through 20 at San Onofre State Park, Lower Trestles. DP
Crane Wins Local Hurley Pro WildcardSan Clemente-based surfer Ian Crane earned a spot into the Hurley Pro at Trestles as winner of the trials at T Street
“Surfing with them is inspiring, for sure,” Cannon said. “All these guys like Kolohe Andino, Chris Ward and all the other guys live right here and it’s awesome to surf when they’re in the water. You can see how you want to surf when you get older.”
Cannon said growing up here has moti-vated him to chase a pro surfing career and he is willing to do what it takes.
“You have to surf every day. Don’t sit on the beach when it’s big or when the waves are bad. Always go out,” Cannon said. “And be nice to everyone. When they say ‘hi’ you say ‘hi’ back. Sportsmanship is super impor-tant too. Even when you lose, that doesn’t matter. Still be nice. Sometimes people throw their board on the ground and stuff, and that’s not cool.”—Andrea Swayne
memorial paddle out for Garth Day, a well-known San Clemente surfboard shaper who died on July
25, will be held at 6 p.m. on Friday, July 31 at Lasuens Beach in San Clemente. Then on Saturday, Aug. 1 at the San Clemente Community Center, 100 N. Calle Seville, from 2 p.m. to 5 p.m. a celebration of his life will be held. The public is invited to both. For those wishing to help the family by providing donations of food and refreshments for the Saturday gather-ing, a sign-up sheet can be found at www.signupgenius.com/go/60b0f48a4a72aa46-gathering. A GoFundMe fundraising page has been set up for those wishing to make donations in support of his wife Christy and sons Greydon and Gage. Search Garth Day Memorial Fund at www.gofundme.com. DP
